And another reason why James Yeager is a tool

[BigK]

I took it as a clever way to get people to watch his video and therefore receive a valuable message.

I think he tries to be abrasive and edgy, it's like his sales pitch.

[Oh Shoot]

I thought that video was decently well done. At least on a point by point basis. I felt his most recent video where he is actually stating how badass he is was a bit much.

"I've been in hundreds of fights, from fist fights to gun fights and never lost"? Like, that fiasco on the Iraqi bridge was a win because he survived it?

- OS

Edited October 31, 2012 by OhShoot

[Dolomite_supafly]

I have been in hundreds of fights, from gun fights to fist fights, I've never lost......"

Well not exactly true. He has lost at least one of his gun fights.

For those who think I hate Yeager for no reason think again.

Let me start by saying I knew of him and even followed a lot of what he said on his forum long before I even knew of the incident or even became a contractor. I agreed with nearly everything he was saying and he was the biggest motivating factor in me walking away from a career in LE that had spanned nearly 1/2 my life in order to become a contractor. I looked up to, and respected, him because of what he was saying on his forum.

The first I heard of the "incident" was in passing from a Bagdad contracting veteran when I was talking about Yeager’s forum. That particular person had been in the contracting world since long before the 2003 invasion. I thought to myself what does he know and this new guy, me, even stood up for James. After all I had read every word I could of James trying to learn the contracting world. So I began asking in person, as well as in emails, all those I had met in my time contracting. The majority said they had never worked with him and only heard rumors. But a few knew him and knew him very, very well. It was those who gave me a bit of insight into the workings of James Yeager before the incident ever happened. Those that knew him said his work ethic leaved something to be desired. He was a hot head and troublesome to work with. They also said that he was going to be let go had the “incident†not secured his fate with ERSM.

Then for the following year I read every piece I could on the "incident". I looked at it as objectively as I could because I had come from the camp that had cheered James for a very long time. I wanted James to be in the right but I just didn't see it. The video isn't where I had my problem even though he made mistakes. The biggest problem I had was with the AAR where he, in his own words, was blaming everyone else it seemed. I will not post it here but I do have a copy.

Did the fact he had put the car in neutral and forgot contribute to the deaths? Hard to say but it sure didn’t help. Again, my problem isn’t with the “incident†itself. It is with the AAR coupled with what the people who knew him told me.

I realize it is easier to do a Monday morning quarterbacking but I am far from an armchair quarterback. I can say without a doubt I have spent more time in his shoes while overseas than he has. I have worked for several companies and paid my dues during that time. I would consider myself knowledgeable on the contracting world or at least until I was injured overseas, things have since changed. And yes, I have taken fire and done so on more than one trip and multiple times each trip.

I have worked with some bad guys as well as some great guys. But one thing generally holds true, if you are one of the bad guys you are not called back. Good guys are always called back and even by different companies. Your reputation precedes you on any contract after your first.

I am glad he made lemonade out of lemons but I personally can't get over it. I hope he has changed from the early years but it is hard for a cheetah to lose its spots.

Dolomite

[Guest 6.8 AR]

I do understand your point of view, Gordon. Like I said earlier, I knew nothing of his past and never considered

him to be anything other than what he portrays himself to be.

Thanks for sharing that.

[Dolomite`s Breezy]

This guy eats tacticool and poops badass. I would love to tell him that, but he probably wouldn't hear me over the sound of how awesome he is.

LOL...

[gjohnsoniv]

"I've been in hundreds of fights, from fist fights to gun fights and never lost"

- OS

I thought they always said if you have never lost a fight then you have never actually been in many?

[Dolomite_supafly]

I honestly do not hate him. He is providing a service that people want and is helping people prepare themselves. He is turning gun owners into more capable gun owners that will be there to protect is all in the end. And for that I appreciate what he does but I do not appreciate what he was and possible still is. There is a huge distinction between what a person is and what a person does.

I cannot bring myself to like him on a personal level because of what I know in my heart of hearts everything I was told is true. And because of that I will never attend any of his courses. I will never be able to speak of his courses, good or bad. You will never find a single word by me claiming his classes are crap. I would never make that assumption at least not without attending.

Honestly, I never really believed what those people had told me and even today I would have not believed it but his videos are backing up what those people had been telling me all along.

Dolomite

[Dolomite_supafly]

I thought they always said if you have never lost a fight then you have never actually been in many?

I have probably lost as many as I have won. But most importantly I learned along the way to hopefully my next fight won't be as bad as my first.

Dolomite

[RobertNashville]

...There is a huge distinction between what a person is and what a person does....

I disagree...what a person does defines what a person is.

Moving on...

I respect your opinion and while I don't know you personally, I can take from your posts above that you are far more knowledgeable about JY and what it's like to be in his shoes than I am or ever will be but what I don't understand is why you feel you need to post the initial video (a video that most here seem to think is good info even if they don't like the "style") apparently, just to call him a "tool".

It just seems inappropriate to me and not something that we should not be doing on TGO.

Edited October 31, 2012 by RobertNashville

[bubbiesdad]

Comments disabled. Doesn't matter, I'm banned from commenting on his channel anyway.